Taliban to Debate Imran Khan's Protest in Waziristan

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Taliban leaders will hold a meeting to decide if they will allow Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to protest against drone attacks in their tribal stronghold, The Express Tribune has learnt on Thursday. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ahsanullah Ahsan has denied reports that they will kill Khan if he arrives. However, Ahsan said that the Taliban see Khan as an “infidel” because he describes himself as a liberal. “The TTP shura will decide what to do a week before his arrival and will announce it,” Ahsan said, adding that “it’s sure and clear that we don’t have any sympathy with Imran Khan, neither do we need his sympathy, as he himself claims to be a liberal, and we see liberals as infidels.” Earlier, according to a report by Associate Press (AP), the Taliban had threatened to kill Khan if he holds the planned protest. Ahsan, however,  said that the AP reporter had misquoted him. “The reporter added the death threat himself, bypassing the norms of journalism; he tried to break a news story for his publicity and it shows his immorality,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the Taliban condemn such behaviour by media persons. Khan has maintained that he is a liberal and a practicing Muslim. Some of his critics have nicknamed him “Taliban Khan” because of his views and ties with conservative religious parties, who could help him attract right-wing voters in the upcoming general elections. Earlier in July, Khan had announced that he was planning to lead thousands of people in a march to Waziristan in September to protest against the strikes. [Source]

Taliban leaders will hold a meeting to decide if they will allow Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan to protest against drone attacks in their tribal stronghold, The Express Tribune has learnt on Thursday.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ahsanullah Ahsan has denied reports that they will kill Khan if he arrives. However, Ahsan said that the Taliban see Khan as an “infidel” because he describes himself as a liberal.

“The TTP shura will decide what to do a week before his arrival and will announce it,” Ahsan said, adding that “it’s sure and clear that we don’t have any sympathy with Imran Khan, neither do we need his sympathy, as he himself claims to be a liberal, and we see liberals as infidels.”

Earlier, according to a report by Associate Press (AP), the Taliban had threatened to kill Khan if he holds the planned protest. Ahsan, however,  said that the AP reporter had misquoted him.

“The reporter added the death threat himself, bypassing the norms of journalism; he tried to break a news story for his publicity and it shows his immorality,” the spokesperson stated, adding that the Taliban condemn such behaviour by media persons.

Khan has maintained that he is a liberal and a practicing Muslim. Some of his critics have nicknamed him “Taliban Khan” because of his views and ties with conservative religious parties, who could help him attract right-wing voters in the upcoming general elections.

Earlier in July, Khan had announced that he was planning to lead thousands of people in a march to Waziristan in September to protest against the strikes.

[Source]